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“Thank you,” Isabella said, taking her hand from his. Alexander could not help but notice how uncomfortable she looked. There she was right in front of him, yet he could feel the distance between them. Assuming it had everything to do with the misunderstanding, he sought to reassure her.
“Isabella, I am sure you have heard of the rumors about my forthcoming wedding, but I can assure you it is not entirely true,” he began, stopping when she raised her hands.
“It is alright, I understand.” Alexander frowned slightly. Isabella’s eyes were constantly drifting to the long-case clock in the corner almost impatiently. It seemed she was intent on looking anywhere but at him. Her actions left an uncomfortable feeling in his gut as he worried that she already believed the rumors and did not want to have anything to do with him anymore. Panicking, he tried once again to explain the situation to her.
“Please let me explain. No matter what you have heard, I promise I am not deceiving you. I wrote a letter to you. My old butler was quite insistent on delivering the letter, despite my initial refusal for his eyes are not what they used to be. He eventually delivered the letter to the butler at the Campbellresidence. Because of the instructions included with the letter, the Campbell butler assumed it was intended for their eldest daughter, which is what caused this mishap; of me courting the Campbell daughter. I only found out about this today when Lord Campbell summoned me. Despite the fact that I have done nothing to tarnish their daughter's reputation, I am being charged with keeping it clean. I havenever even met the lady. Now I am expected to marry her over a misunderstanding." Alexander could not keep his words from coming out as complaints. His feelings were raw and the stress of trying to keep Isabella from doubting him made it impossible for him to sound any other way.
Isabella let out a long hard sigh after she had listened to all that he had to say. She headed over to the couch he had been sitting on before, and Alexander followed her readily. They sat together and she gave him a tired look. “I believe you, Alexander.”
Alexander felt relief run through his veins and he let out a deep sigh. He had not expected her to take his word that easily.
“Truthfully, I found it hard to believe the rumors when I heard them, because I trust you, Alex. But I do not think there is anything we can do at this point.” Isabella’s eyes looked sad.
Alexander felt his heart squeeze at the sight of her sad expression. He did not like that look on her, he realized. “I will find a way to solve this, Isabella, I promise.” He smiled at her, trying to make her feel better, but her face scrunched up into a frown instead.
“I do not think you can, Alexander. You cannot escape this situation, especially not now, when everyone already believes you are to wed her,” Isabella said, trying to laugh off the tears in her eyes. “I had always thought I would be happily married to someone I loved, just like my parents were. How naive I was to think that I would be different. I should have known better, after all, nobles hardly ever marry for love.”
“Please Isabella, do not give up on our love. I will find a way. I only ask that you give me a little time to think.” Alexander moved to hug her, horrified that he had indirectly caused her pain. He held her tightly, wishing he could meld their bodies together. “I beg you to give me a little more time, Isabella. You are the one I love and want to spend the rest of my life with. I know that this is my fault, but there could never be any other woman for me.”
For some reason, as he spoke, his mind went back to another set of blue eyes he had encountered that day. His thoughts were suddenly filled with the memory of the blonde lady he had bumped into on his way out of the Campbell house. He pushed the thought away quickly, wondering why images of her had snuck up on him so suddenly. Why would he be thinking of someone else?
Eager to get the image out of his mind, he placed his hand under Isabella’s chin and looked into her eyes, hoping to find acceptance, and that she would find reassurance in his. Yet all he could find was uncertainty as he kissed away her tears. His lips moved along her face as he murmured comforting words to her. Unable to stop himself, he let go of whatever shred of self-control he had left and placed his lips firmly on hers.
Groaning against their softness, Alexander wrapped his arms around her back as he pulled her taut against his body. Thoughts of his problems faded away as he kissed her. It had been a few days since he had her in his arms and he did not know how much he had missed that until now. His desperation was even more intense at the thought that he might never get to hold her like this again. Breath intermingling, her delicious moans like music to his ears were swallowed up by his mouth, encouraging him as he ran his hands down her side, feeling the soft swell of her breast.
Alexander kissed down her neck, sucking and biting gently as one hand moved over her covered breast, pinching on her hard nipple, and causing her to let out a cry which he muffled with his other hand on her mouth. Alexander smiled against her skin at the sound. He had studied her body and knew what she loved. Now he was going to giveit to her as a reminder of why she should be patient with him.
Lifting her slightly, he set her astride on his lap. Returning his lips to hers, he drank in the essence of her, wishing he could lose all inhibitions but knowing that he could not. He wished that this were another one of their stolen moments in her bedroom.
Isabella returned his hands to her breasts, her eyes staying closed, lips parted, and face raised to the heavens. The action caused him to smile. It was one of his favorite things about her, the fact that she demanded her pleasure and made sure she got it. He was pulled from his thoughts sharply by Isabella grinding against him, her head moving to rest on his shoulder. Cursing, he lifted her to pull up her dress and settled her once again on his hard member. Alexander felt his jaw clench as he struggled to control himself. He had missed this—her—dearly.
“Alex…” She moaned, but her words were cut off suddenly by a knock on the door that startled them both. Isabella jumped off him and went to the opposite side of the room where she quickly arranged her clothes, looking at her reflection on a glass to make sure she looked presentable. Alexander watched as she looked at herself, confirming that nothing was out of place. She placed a hand on her chest to restore calmness.
Alexander was rattled. If they were to be caught, the story would be that she seduced a man who was courting another. The rumors of his relationship with Caroline had come first after all. He had to be more careful when he was with her if he wanted to protect her. By the time she was done fixing her appearance, he had already taken care of himself, making sure he too was presentable.
Isabella glanced at Alexander, a blush on her face from what he imagined was embarrassment as another knock came at the door. He smiled slightly in encouragement.
“Come in,” she called, and John opened the doors the next moment. He turned to the side to usher someone in.
“Miss Isabella, Lord Westworth.” John bowed as he announced the guest.
A rather ugly, older gentleman stepped in. He held an expensive wooden cane that he used to pace his steps, and his coat was well-tailored. He had come with lovely red roses, as though he were a young Lord, shyly courting a lovely maiden. Alexander did not recognize him and was not sure he had ever met him before. The man smiled kindly, nodding at Alexander, who returned his greeting with a bow, silently wondering what was going on.
“Lady Isabella, you look as lovely as ever,” Lord Westworth said, by way of greeting as he took her hand in his and kissed it gently, handing her the flowers.
Isabella smiled at the man and took the flowers from him, thanking him. Given the man’s age, Alexander had thought this Lord Westworth was possibly a friend of Isabella’s father, here to meet with him, but that notion was discarded after she accepted the flowers and the way she reacted when he placed a kiss on the back of her hand.
The thought of this man courting Isabella left a sour taste in his mouth. This was not how their story was supposed to play out. “It appears I have interrupted you and your guest,” Lord Westworth said. “Would you prefer that I come back another time?”
“No, Lord Westworth, you have interrupted nothing. Sir Mannfield was just about to take his leave,” she said, turning to Alexander and pleading with her eyes for him to leave. Understanding that now was not the time for questions, no matter how much he wanted to know, he bowed to the Lord and took his leave, confused about what to do.
“Thank you for your time, Lady Isabella,” Alexander said formally. “Lord Westworth.”
Making his way back to his waiting carriage, he entered silently, not saying a word all the way home. There was so much that didn’t make sense to him, and he intended to find out.
Alexander hurried down from the carriage as soon as it stopped, rushing to his private quarters to pen a letter to Isabella.
My beloved,
